Benzodiazepines are usually swallowed. Some people also inject them. Effects of benzodiazepines There is no safe level of drug use. Benzodiazepines affect everyone differently, but the effects may include: depression confusion feelings of isolation or euphoria impaired thinking and memory loss headache drowsiness, sleepiness and fatigue dry mouth slurred speech or stuttering double or blurred vision impaired coordination, dizziness and tremors nausea and loss of appetite diarrhoea or constipation.
Injecting benzodiazepines may also cause: vein damage and scarring infection, including hepatitis B, hepatitis C, HIV and AIDS deep vein thrombosis and clots which can result in loss of limbs, damage to organs, stroke and possibly death.
Withdrawal Giving up benzodiazepines after a long time is challenging because the body has to get used to functioning without them. Symptoms can last from a few weeks to a year and can include: headaches aching or twitching muscles dizziness and tremors nausea, vomiting, stomach pains bizarre dreams, difficulty sleeping, fatigue poor concentration anxiety and irritability altered perception, heightening of senses delusions, hallucinations and paranoia seizures.
Read more about withdrawal. Getting help If your use of benzodiazepines is affecting your health, family, relationships, work, school, financial or other life situations, you can find help and support.
Search support services. National 4. Upfal J. Melbourne: Black Inc. Australian Government Department of Health. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare. National Drug Strategy Household Survey detailed report Canberra: AIHW. Path2Help Not sure what you are looking for? Find out more. When a person feels anxious, overstimulation occurs in the brain. When people take benzodiazepines, the brain will send messages to counter this overstimulation. This activity can reduce the symptoms of anxiety.
There are many different benzodiazepines. They differ in terms of potency, how quickly the body absorbs them, and their uses. This table shows some examples and their uses:. The side effects of benzodiazepine use may include :. More serious effects include:. A wide range of withdrawal symptoms can occur when stopping benzodiazepines. They include:. Experts do not recommend using benzodiazepines for more than 2 weeks.
A person who uses them for 3—4 weeks and then stops suddenly is likely to experience withdrawal symptoms. People who use them in the long term may need to withdraw their use over a 3—12 month period that their doctor should oversee. Stopping slowly with professional help can prevent unwanted effects. What happens when you stop taking benzodiazepines?
Find out here. A benzodiazepine overdose can lead to :. Anyone who shows signs of an overdose or an adverse reaction after taking benzodiazepines will need emergency medical help. Before starting treatment with benzodiazepines, a person must tell their doctor about every other medication that they are using. Some drugs may intensify the effects of benzodiazepines, while others may make them less effective. It is essential not to use benzodiazepines with opioids or alcohol, as this can lead to life threatening effects.
You could react differently depending on what type of benzodiazepine you have taken or if the prpduct contains other substances without you knowing. If you use benzos during pregnancy, there is a higher risk of your baby being born with a cleft palate an abnormality of the lip or mouth. Your baby may have withdrawal for up to weeks after delivery and may find it difficult to suck. Your baby may be at greater risk of cot death. Tolerance to benzodiazepines can develop quickly.
This can lead to people using more. This increases the risk of dependency and overdose. It can be dangerous to suddenly stop taking benzodiazepines. Benzodiazepine withdrawal can be dangerous, especially if you have been using frequently or high doses. These can be dangerous and you may need medical help. It is important to get medical support if you want to reduce or stop use.
This could be provided in the community or through a residential facility. Benzodiazepines will show up in a urine test for days. The length of time depends on the test used, the amount you take, if you have other medical conditions and your own metabolism.
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